I’m an American, the whole world owes this man a debt of gratitude…I grew up relatively poor, this man’s affordable food kept me fed…I don’t know this man, but I love him like a dear friend…
do you expect him to? do you think he doesn't deserve to benefit off his actions? you can be selfless and humble while still making money and being in a position of power...@@Salim_Habib
@@Шевчу́к-г8цHe should still be given one imo. I don’t see why someone who’s no longer alive but greatly helped humanity can’t have a Nobel Prize. It honours them above all else
Hard to imagine a world without instant noodles, People will complain about how unhealthy they can be, but at the end of the day they're a cheap meal that has kept millions of people going, regardless of the situation they might be in. That alone makes Ando worthy of praise and respect.
Grew up in the 80s. Dirt poor, no electricity half the time. One thing we could get that was hot and quick was ramen. I ate it so much along with rice, beans and potatoes that I eventually got sick of eating it. Years later when I was poor young man working and finding a place in the world again ramen this time cup ramen filled my cabinets. That along with take home pizza, (roommate was a Dominoes manager), fed me for over a year. I never realized that the food I spent a few years eating as a poor kid in the countryside was designed specifically for people like me. It changes my whole view. What a great man!
Except at the time Nissin instant ramen was first introduced, going to a noodle stall and getting yourself some ramen was FAR les expensive than purchasing the Original Chikin Ramen. I dot think I remember eating instant ramen (and certainly not restaurant ramen) until maybe high school, but I liked them right away. Now, in the age of internet shopping, I have learned not to just like instant noodles, but to love them, in all their nearly infinite varieties, and endless ways of customizing how you prepare and serve them. A couple of ways I have learned to elevate the mouthfeel and flavor of the broth of cheap ramen is to melt a slice of American Cheese (or other similar and highly processed cheese) in it, or to stir in a dab of mayonnaise. One of the few people I have known who had a real aversion to any kind of ramen is a woman who spent a couple of years in prison. I suppose many prisoners end up being sick of not after a while, similar to your experience as poor young man. I also ate a fair share of ramen as a poor college student (as well as the cheapest generic spaghetti I could find served with packets of ketchup I would take by the fistful every time I went to any kind of fast food establishment. Also of course the free packets of hot sauce from a nearby Taco Bell, which at that time still had the 39 cent tacos. Ten tacos for less than 4 dollars, those are the days! They might not have been exactly stuffed with toppings, but yips till got to eat 10 tortillas. And I got to acquire extra hot sauce for my ketchup spaghetti.
I was served my first ramen (a pack of chicken ramen, dry, as a side dish with roast chicken and peas) at a friend’s house in 1990. Loved them from that first bite. My friend’s mom kept apologizing for the cheap meal because her husband had passed away and money was tight, but to me it was one of the best things ever and I kept telling her so. After that, I bought ramen regularly and ate it whenever my parents cooked something I didn’t want to eat. Back then, my favorite flavor was beef, but now I love the pork or the spicy flavors. It’s getting REALLY hard to find the pork flavor these days!
@@mikewhocheeseharry5292eggs and veggies are pretty damn pricey when you're eating instant ramen to survive. I've lived in poverty my whole life, but I've grown fond of treating myself with adding canned chicken and green onions/scallions to my ramen. I no longer just need to eat Top Ramen and have been able to explore other, much better brands and flavors and it took me a long time to be able to afford the luxury of adding things to it.
This guy has literally saved me from a childhood of hunger. Ironically in the US jails top noodles are the main ingredient in all commissary made meals.
I grew up on Ramen and I was in a lower class household. I’m 41 making 6 figures and I still have Ramen in my cabinet along with peanut butter and Tuna in a can. It’s a reminder to be humble and remember where you come from.
I lived in Japan and got introduced to ramen there in the 80s. My father was an enlisted U.S. soldier with a family of six. Poor we were and I’m in the six figures now as welll.
Even tho there is this stigma about instant noodles being unhealthy and so on, this man's determination and selflessness for creating something for everyone to have during a time of hunger and hardship is legendary. I salute you!
the irony is that the "unhealthy" instant noodles arent the ones made by Nissin (though i have read that these days, in some regions of the world, Nissin Japan isn't able to strictly control how other nissins manufacturers in other countries operate)
@@doctorakiba even if they were really unhealthy, obama got a nobel peace prize for dropping bopmbs on civilians, I see no reason why this guy shouldn't get one
@@joshschneider9766it's also very customizable! You can always add whatever protein and veggies you have to make it a better meal, and use less of the seasoning if sodium is a concern.
I'm an American, and a friend introduced me to Instant Ramen Noodles when we were hungry college students. When going home to visit, I got my mom (who was a Great cook!) into them! Pretty soon, everywhere I looked, people were happily slurping ramen! I thank the Spirit of this great man who never gave up and inculcated ramen as a menu staple all over the world!
This man helped to keep me from going hungry as a kid, and, admittedly even as a grownup sometimes. The same must be true for millions all around the world. He's a hero and he deserves recognition.
Even Scout Rangers appreciate this man. Without Mr. Ando, we wouldn't have Scout Rangers, since they needed nonperishable meals to operate for months outside their homes, and Mr. Ando helped feed our fighting men. The man even earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Legion of Merit Awards for making it possible for Tier 1 groups to operate better. In memoriam to a man whose bones are now as dry as the noodle blocks, but whose memory is as warm as the soup we all know and love. Recquiesat in pace, victor.
Mister Momofuku Ando isn't just a national treasure he is a international hero. His selfless ventures to feed the people of Japan didn't just stop there, to this day he is still giving affordable meals to poor people around the globe. This man is inspiring.
@@li6946 He was a Japanese of Taiwanese Han ethnicity descent. There is no such thing as a "Chinese" ethnicity, and just because he was of Han ethnicity does not entitle China to claim credit. It's like Germany claiming credit for Henry Heinz's inventions solely because he was of German descent or the Dutch claiming credit for Thomas Edison's (who was partially of Dutch descent) invention of the lightbulb. Momofuku was never born in China and never felt any nostalgia towards China. If anything, he felt an affinity towards Japan. He was born in Taiwan under Japanese rule. Typical mainlander. Stop trying to steal credit for things which are not yours.
Like many in the comments below. I grew up poor and had hard times myself when I went out on my own. I lived off of ramen noodles as they were very affordable and you could add different things for variety. Now that I am an old man I don't need to eat them but always keep some around as a comfort food. I owe this man a lot and hope that others realize the help he provided to those in need with his instant ramen. Thank you Sir.
I am writing a paper about the history of cup ramen, i've seen about 10 of these videos and this is the best one by far. Most factually correct information I have seen about the topic! Just subbed - keep doing what you are doing, your channel will blow up one day soon! 🙂
This literally blew my mind, a food that carried my life over years for situational and preference and to know he did this All Alone no friend or partner he just went at it for years threw adversity and all is truly inspiring. He definitely deserves his own award with his name
First time in my life of 40 years i have see people around the world, race, religion and geographically praising a single person who helped people around the world (including me) to not go hungry. He really need a Nobel award for that. Salute to you. RIP Sir. ❤️❤️❤️
I'm sincerely impressed on how he can lose everything multiple time and still pick himself up from his bootstraps and build back not just a normal life but a super successful one at that
From his native Taiwan, there are so many dried noodles and fried noodles. Like 伊麵 , Mee sua and many others. But somehow he manage to extend the lifespan beyond a few months.
Neat. I had no idea. I have lived on ramen and other cheap foods during hard times myself. Early adulthood tends to be under funded and navigated by the inexperienced, and Ramen feeds millions of Americans every day. Thanks to variety I can still enjoy it unlike cheap hotdogs or bologna.
He’s a world hero what an amazing life he lived and what an amazing accomplishment. Now every time I eat a bowl of ramen noodles I’ll think about this.
All food has gone way up in price, but these are still affordable. The ramen packages are cheaper than the cups, you can still get those under a dollar.
@@mph1ishThere are some brands like Mama brand instant noodles, that actually taste good dry out of its package. It’s somewhat like eating potato chips, deep fried and seasoning.
I spent my entire childhood eating ramen, literally from atleast 5th grade-high school I ate ramen everyday after school. One of my favorite meals growing up, my mom would boil some chicken, shred it and put it in ramen. My mom told me many years later, we were poor, that was the easiest way for my parents to feed the 6 of us…we were poor and I never noticed simply because of how much I enjoyed the ramen itself. I wish I could personally thank this man.
Thank you for this video. I didn't know I was in such an emotional relationship with Ramen in my life. Thank you for your great service to humanity, Momofuku Ando
Momofuku Ando is also a great tale about living between two countries and cultures. This video is based on his biography that completely omits it but born as a Chinese in Taiwan he became by choice Japanese but had to renounce his citizenship for a time after Ww2 so that the Taiwanese government wouldnt disown him and take his parental home and business from him. As tensions between Taiwan and Japan lessened later he became Japanese again in 1966 and is an outstanding example of a successful non-Japanese business man in post-war Japan
Momofuku Ando/Wu was born a Japanese subject of the Japanese province of Taiwan. He did not have to become a Japanese by choice, because there weren't any other choice. Heck, the Republic of China did not even recognize Taiwan as its own province, and Taiwanese who entered China before 1945 were officially foreigners. ROC maps dating in the 30s still showed Taiwan as part of Japan. It was only when total US victory became imminent did the KMT saw an opportunity to occupy the island of Taiwan. If anything, he became a Chinese citizen by choice, one made under coercion, because as you said, the KMT threatened to freeze his assets and confiscate his property. Nonetheless, it didn't stop him from moving to Japan immediately postwar, even if he was not officially Japanese yet. As soon as the political tensions eased, he ditched the KMT and regained Japanese citizenship, and that was not a difficult choice.
@@TakCWAL I think the whole point is people known him as MOMOFUKU ANDO instead of his real name Go Pek-Hok from his Chinese ethnicity. He wasn't even mixed or full Chinese. He lived in Taiwan, so I don't imagine he was connected to China as a country itself. However, he was still Chinese and yet that part is completely erased. His idea of instant ramen had some influence from Chinese noodles itself since that is how Japanese ramen was invented so ignoring that part is not cool. He had a Japanese wife so I imagined that was the reason he picked Japan? China itself went through a lot of turmoil after the war, and he probably didn't feel connected to the country since he was from Taiwan and not to imagine China/Taiwan relationship.
In this video, in JAPAN they may call it Ramen but in HAWAII, we call it SAIMIN,and I was brought up on it, and I still eat it, because you can make a quick cheap easy meal for pennies as my children do and they like it
I remember, practically, LIVING on Ramen back when I was in Job Corps. I still eat it, to this day, now that I'm in my 50s as a snack/comfort food and I'd always wondered how they got the noodles dried and able to be shelf stable; Indefinitely. Thanks for this video.
dude went to prison for helping people. he helped people his whole life no matter the cause. the amount of bellys that are filled because of him will forever be greatful
First saw Cup Noodle in California in 77. We carried tons of it to Saudi Arabia. Top Ramen helped get me through the misery of boarding school in the 80s; now I'm in Mexico & can enjoy both 💓 The Japanese kids in boarding school had a different kind of ramen. The noodles were soft, in a sealed pouch, and the flavor packets were liquid, with grease included.
Those are the bougie noodles. Well worth it- But often a luxury only reserved for work-study payday, every 2 weeks. 😅 To be fair, my daughter introduced me to the world of alternate, easy to prepare, delicious noodles. Ramen and a couple chickens will get one through a Zombie apocalypse.
This man needs the noble prize his instant ramen is getting me through uni cheep n easy meal especially in a really cold winter day a hot bowl of soup is a budget chef kiss
It's the 'Nobel' prize, named after the inventor and scientist Alfred Nobel. Momofuku Ando never received one but he did get many other awards and medals of equal and greater value.
So I watched this and then tried the original Top Ramen for the first time (I've been eating the other popular brand 'cause it's convenient). The Nissin noodles cost just a little more but have no MSG, lower sodium, a little less saturated fat and taste the same. Thanks for this video.
WHAT A MAN! To have moments in your life you recall back too not only to provide motivation but to help strike ideas and help you become innovative. Dude was a genius. Having dinner with your wife watch her fry tempura and DING light bulb. Dope!
I keep a supply of Mama Ramen on hand because the noodles themselves are lightly seasoned and can be used to make other meals without a ton of added salt.
Me too!!! I have a box of the pork flavor ones and sometimes just eat the noodles raw in it’s package with seasoning sprinkled on top. 😂 I’m not currently starving but it reminds me of my childhood and now enjoy them as an adult.
Ando, (born Go Pek-Hok 吳百福), signifies the division of Taiwanese identity during and after WW2. At the end of WW2, a good deal of Taiwanese identified themselves as Japanese (Taiwan is a Japanese colony between 1895-1945) while they are ethnically Hokkien Chinese descent (such as Ando). That's why he went to Japan, or "to the motherland". Most of the people who identified with Japan were seriously oppressed when chiang kai shek's Natioanlist party retreated to Taiwan, and one can say the whole Taiwanese independence movement started with the Taiwanese who identified themselves more as Japanese back in the 50s. Even today, Taiwan is a place that has a unique blend of Chinese and Japanese culture. Older Japanese people often think Okinawa and Taiwan are similar (Okinawa is closer to Taiwan than Japan mainland). Taiwanese often thinks Ramen is a Taiwanese invention due to Ando's origin, but Ando himself probably hoped to be a pure Japanese tho.
I'm curious do you have source that he hoped to be a pure Japanese? I don't imagine it was fun being under Japanese colonial rule. Taiwanese left China and went to Taiwan so naturally they don't want to go back to China. There were a lot of conflicts then. Regardless, I don't think they refer Japan "to the motherland" as Japanese soldiers were known to be horrible during WII. Taiwanese invention or not, his origin came from Fujian China so his food and custom are probably came from there too. Ramen from China was introduced to Japan first and then later Ando invented instant ramen. "Ramen is a popular Japanese dish that consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and topped with ingredients such as sliced pork, dried seaweed, and green onions. The dish has its origins in China, where it was introduced to Japan in the 19th century. The first known instance of ramen in Japan occurred in 1859, when the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Zeng Gongliang, presented the dish to the Japanese Emperor. Ramen quickly gained popularity in Japan, and by the early 20th century, it had become a staple food in the country." otakuramen.com/a-brief-history-of-ramen/#:~:text=The%20dish%20has%20its%20origins,dish%20to%20the%20Japanese%20Emperor.
These things made up like 50% of all my meals through my time as a student, and even today I always have a stash in my cupboard (though nowadays most are the expensive high quality ones)
On my construction sites we had food trucks, but I always had couple cases of cup of noodles, when new laborers started some “like me 6yrs before” couldn’t afford even PBJ, but building is hard work,takes calories, I made sure they ate n stay hydrated, Texas is hot enough but construction causes heat from machinery, chemicals, welding, materials, all of it, these noodles saved many of my men’s lives
Thank you Momofuku Ando for your wonderful gift to the world. I always keep a case or two of cup noodles in my barracks for the nights I just need a quick cup of comfort when the mess hall is closed
Here in Osaka there is the Cup Noodle Museum. It is in Ikeda, north of Osaka. Should you visit Japan and want to go there just take the Hankyu Takarazuka train line from Umeda Osaka Station.
Instant Ramen noodles were a Godsend when I was young and poor. Buy a dozen Ramen noodles packs. Buy a Dozen eggs and buy some frozen mixed vegetables....or grow your own veggies. I could eat for a week on $10 to $15. This was the late 80s and 90s.
@@thomaslong8448I'm not living super long. I chain smoke cigarettes and drink beer most nights. I only eat Ramen a couple of times a month nowadays since I'm 53 and married (no kids). At least I have a physical job that keeps me in shape.
Here in Mexico we recently got a flavor called esquites wich are essentially noodles with elote (corn) red bell pepper and some seasonings, usually when I can't spend too much on food or don't have time to cook I just make a cup of those and add mayonnaise and Tabasco sauce, it's quick, cheap and tastes almost as good as real esquites, and all thanks to this man, greetings from Mexico...
I've recently found a bunch of Asian grocery stores that stock nissin cup noodles and they're far superior to the standard ones you get in our supermarkets. Curry flavour is the bomb just FYI.
I like the Mama brand Pork Flavor. It doesn’t taste anything like pork and it’s not in a cup but you can easily cook in in your own cup. I prefer cooking it on a stove while making the broth first like adding meats, veggies, and then throw the noodles into the seasoned broth.
Interesting. I think anyone who is poor or has been or just barely getting by has eaten ramen. pack of ramen noodles fills ya up. This man is more than just a hero of Japan. he is a hero of the world. people all over the world survive on ramen noodles.
When you stop and think about it, it's so peculiar, all the millions and billions of little ways that people change the world during their time here. Its really inspiring, but also sad when you consider that most people will never know what it feels like to be that impactful to the trajectory of mankind.
The fact that he failed multiple times in his career and didn’t let it stop him and eventually creating a product that saved millions of lives. That man deserve’s a nobel prize.
Struggling college kids and poor people hold this man on a higher pedestal. And if u were both like me, the respect is even greater for this mans invention.
It’s worth noting that he started his most successful business at age 48. After decades of prosperity and setbacks, he never gave up. It’s never too late to try something new.
I’m an American, the whole world owes this man a debt of gratitude…I grew up relatively poor, this man’s affordable food kept me fed…I don’t know this man, but I love him like a dear friend…
Right. I grew up poor and ramen was a staple in my household. I'm raising my own family now and we keep ramen in our home.
He was destined to feed people God blessed him
@@faceofextinction7156smh high sodium high chemical processed ramen? 🫣
Facts
Why the need to tell us your american? Wanna include your state and zip?
Not only is this guy a national hero he should be just noticed as a hero of the whole planet he's basically fed the world
People die every day because of ramen
Beep beep!
He's not feeding us for free
do you expect him to? do you think he doesn't deserve to benefit off his actions? you can be selfless and humble while still making money and being in a position of power...@@Salim_Habib
@@Salim_Habib 25 cent were closer to free
Thousands of college students owe this man a debt of gratitude!
Prisoners as well
More like millions.
@@comptonking310If you add more than three extra ingredients, you are Definitely a Felon. 😆😆😆
Or just someone with taste #NoJudgementHere 🤙🏼@@highmileagehusband1915
Facts
He kept trying to help the people with his business ventures… deserves a Nobel peace prize for feeding billions of people to this day.
FR, Obama got a Nobel Peace prize for dropping bombs on civilians, I see no reason why this guy shouldn't get one
Well unfortunately it's impossible for a dead man to get a Nobel Prize (I don't know why), but yeah, he should have one.
@@Ed_H.Well, beacause the reward meant to be used?
@@Шевчу́к-г8цHe should still be given one imo. I don’t see why someone who’s no longer alive but greatly helped humanity can’t have a Nobel Prize. It honours them above all else
Fax bro. Man’s a badass and hero. Wish more ppl were like him.
Hard to imagine a world without instant noodles, People will complain about how unhealthy they can be, but at the end of the day they're a cheap meal that has kept millions of people going, regardless of the situation they might be in. That alone makes Ando worthy of praise and respect.
I really want a bowl now.. unfortunately I live on a tiny island and the only shop closes at 5
It’s kept millions of people still hungry, but they will keep going.
In Korea there is a restaurant where they serve instant ramen . . . 😘
Simply amazing. There is no political or religious leader who has helped more people in ths world than the noodle man! Hes a world treasure!
@@Guspech750 can’t eat religion! 😎
Grew up in the 80s. Dirt poor, no electricity half the time. One thing we could get that was hot and quick was ramen. I ate it so much along with rice, beans and potatoes that I eventually got sick of eating it. Years later when I was poor young man working and finding a place in the world again ramen this time cup ramen filled my cabinets. That along with take home pizza, (roommate was a Dominoes manager), fed me for over a year. I never realized that the food I spent a few years eating as a poor kid in the countryside was designed specifically for people like me. It changes my whole view. What a great man!
Except at the time Nissin instant ramen was first introduced, going to a noodle stall and getting yourself some ramen was FAR les expensive than purchasing the Original Chikin Ramen. I dot think I remember eating instant ramen (and certainly not restaurant ramen) until maybe high school, but I liked them right away. Now, in the age of internet shopping, I have learned not to just like instant noodles, but to love them, in all their nearly infinite varieties, and endless ways of customizing how you prepare and serve them. A couple of ways I have learned to elevate the mouthfeel and flavor of the broth of cheap ramen is to melt a slice of American Cheese (or other similar and highly processed cheese) in it, or to stir in a dab of mayonnaise. One of the few people I have known who had a real aversion to any kind of ramen is a woman who spent a couple of years in prison. I suppose many prisoners end up being sick of not after a while, similar to your experience as poor young man. I also ate a fair share of ramen as a poor college student (as well as the cheapest generic spaghetti I could find served with packets of ketchup I would take by the fistful every time I went to any kind of fast food establishment. Also of course the free packets of hot sauce from a nearby Taco Bell, which at that time still had the 39 cent tacos. Ten tacos for less than 4 dollars, those are the days! They might not have been exactly stuffed with toppings, but yips till got to eat 10 tortillas. And I got to acquire extra hot sauce for my ketchup spaghetti.
I was served my first ramen (a pack of chicken ramen, dry, as a side dish with roast chicken and peas) at a friend’s house in 1990. Loved them from that first bite. My friend’s mom kept apologizing for the cheap meal because her husband had passed away and money was tight, but to me it was one of the best things ever and I kept telling her so. After that, I bought ramen regularly and ate it whenever my parents cooked something I didn’t want to eat. Back then, my favorite flavor was beef, but now I love the pork or the spicy flavors. It’s getting REALLY hard to find the pork flavor these days!
So what's your status now?
Are you still poor and/or living on the streets?
Please tell me 😟😵💫🫤
@@charlesferdinand422 you want to marry her? Get in line!
👍 Great Comment 👍‼🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆✅
Ramen is almost the perfect fast food. So many things can be added to it like eggs, vegetable, meat and you have a cheap full dinner. Love this man
Instant Ramen used to be a luxury item
It ain't cheap no more when you add eggs, vege, shrimp etc..lol
@@billlam7756eggs and vegetables aren’t expensive
@@mikewhocheeseharry5292eggs and veggies are pretty damn pricey when you're eating instant ramen to survive. I've lived in poverty my whole life, but I've grown fond of treating myself with adding canned chicken and green onions/scallions to my ramen. I no longer just need to eat Top Ramen and have been able to explore other, much better brands and flavors and it took me a long time to be able to afford the luxury of adding things to it.
🍜😋 Well Said 💯 ‼🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆✅
He certainly didn't just feed Japan ... he fed us ALL! God bless this man, and may he rest in peace.
This guy has literally saved me from a childhood of hunger.
Ironically in the US jails top noodles are the main ingredient in all commissary made meals.
Aka "The Hook-up" 👍
Raman is a currency
Spreads lol
Thumbs up ‼👍
Its used as prison money.
I grew up on Ramen and I was in a lower class household. I’m 41 making 6 figures and I still have Ramen in my cabinet along with peanut butter and Tuna in a can. It’s a reminder to be humble and remember where you come from.
I lived in Japan and got introduced to ramen there in the 80s. My father was an enlisted U.S. soldier with a family of six. Poor we were and I’m in the six figures now as welll.
💗 truth
Smart man.
For a second I thought you meant you combined the peanut butter, tuna, and ramen in the same bowl lol
I thought burning 100s while doing donuts in a bentley was how we were supposed to stay humble?? So confused lol
Even tho there is this stigma about instant noodles being unhealthy and so on, this man's determination and selflessness for creating something for everyone to have during a time of hunger and hardship is legendary. I salute you!
the irony is that the "unhealthy" instant noodles arent the ones made by Nissin (though i have read that these days, in some regions of the world, Nissin Japan isn't able to strictly control how other nissins manufacturers in other countries operate)
@@doctorakiba even if they were really unhealthy, obama got a nobel peace prize for dropping bopmbs on civilians, I see no reason why this guy shouldn't get one
It's definitely not the healthiest thing in the world but it's certainly tasty and better than going hungry.
@@joshschneider9766it's also very customizable! You can always add whatever protein and veggies you have to make it a better meal, and use less of the seasoning if sodium is a concern.
@@joshschneider9766 , 👍👍👍✅
Instant Ramen has certainly helped me through tough times. This man deserves all the praises we can offer. May he rest in peace
Ironically Ramen noodles are the most popular item on prison commissaries these days. They are even used as currency there.
A soup for your thoughts, bunkie lol
I'm an American, and a friend introduced me to Instant Ramen Noodles when we were hungry college students. When going home to visit, I got my mom (who was a Great cook!) into them! Pretty soon, everywhere I looked, people were happily slurping ramen! I thank the Spirit of this great man who never gave up and inculcated ramen as a menu staple all over the world!
This man helped to keep me from going hungry as a kid, and, admittedly even as a grownup sometimes. The same must be true for millions all around the world. He's a hero and he deserves recognition.
he created a garbage food product that is loaded with sodium and you praise him for that?
This man was an outstanding human. The world really does owe him gratitude. I'm glad I saw this.
Even Scout Rangers appreciate this man. Without Mr. Ando, we wouldn't have Scout Rangers, since they needed nonperishable meals to operate for months outside their homes, and Mr. Ando helped feed our fighting men. The man even earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Legion of Merit Awards for making it possible for Tier 1 groups to operate better.
In memoriam to a man whose bones are now as dry as the noodle blocks, but whose memory is as warm as the soup we all know and love.
Recquiesat in pace, victor.
Its crazy that an ex-prisoner invented it, now its the #1 staple and currency in most jails and prisons.
He went ro prison for giving kids scholarships
Mister Momofuku Ando isn't just a national treasure he is a international hero. His selfless ventures to feed the people of Japan didn't just stop there, to this day he is still giving affordable meals to poor people around the globe. This man is inspiring.
His real name is wu bai fu …… he was Chinese
@@li6946 He was a Japanese of Taiwanese Han ethnicity descent. There is no such thing as a "Chinese" ethnicity, and just because he was of Han ethnicity does not entitle China to claim credit. It's like Germany claiming credit for Henry Heinz's inventions solely because he was of German descent or the Dutch claiming credit for Thomas Edison's (who was partially of Dutch descent) invention of the lightbulb.
Momofuku was never born in China and never felt any nostalgia towards China. If anything, he felt an affinity towards Japan. He was born in Taiwan under Japanese rule. Typical mainlander. Stop trying to steal credit for things which are not yours.
@@woowontonwhatever you say! But his ethnicities is Han Chinese.
I never liked the cup noodle version, but the instant ramen that you cook over the stovetop always has my heart
Like many in the comments below. I grew up poor and had hard times myself when I went out on my own. I lived off of ramen noodles as they were very affordable and you could add different things for variety. Now that I am an old man I don't need to eat them but always keep some around as a comfort food. I owe this man a lot and hope that others realize the help he provided to those in need with his instant ramen. Thank you Sir.
Yes. Thank you Sir.
🍜😋 Well Said 💯‼🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆👍✅
Legend! Got me through college. Respect to this great innovator, and I salute his tireless spirit!
I am writing a paper about the history of cup ramen, i've seen about 10 of these videos and this is the best one by far. Most factually correct information I have seen about the topic! Just subbed - keep doing what you are doing, your channel will blow up one day soon! 🙂
This man carb loaded a lot of bodybuilders and he definitely has a special place in my heart
This literally blew my mind, a food that carried my life over years for situational and preference and to know he did this All Alone no friend or partner he just went at it for years threw adversity and all is truly inspiring. He definitely deserves his own award with his name
Well, technically he had help from his wife... 🤷♂️
First time in my life of 40 years i have see people around the world, race, religion and geographically praising a single person who helped people around the world (including me) to not go hungry. He really need a Nobel award for that. Salute to you. RIP Sir. ❤️❤️❤️
I'm sincerely impressed on how he can lose everything multiple time and still pick himself up from his bootstraps and build back not just a normal life but a super successful one at that
He is the homie all of us needed as a poor kid growing up. Always had food because of this man. Thank you!!
FROM US POOR PEOPLE!! THANK YOU SIR. RESPECT!!!
From his native Taiwan, there are so many dried noodles and fried noodles. Like 伊麵 , Mee sua and many others. But somehow he manage to extend the lifespan beyond a few months.
Neat. I had no idea. I have lived on ramen and other cheap foods during hard times myself. Early adulthood tends to be under funded and navigated by the inexperienced, and Ramen feeds millions of Americans every day. Thanks to variety I can still enjoy it unlike cheap hotdogs or bologna.
I feel you bro
Yeah I prefer Ramen than Spam or cheap hotdogs.
I'll sometimes cut hot dogs or kiełbasa into my ramen.
@@mikewhocheeseharry5292 You can cut Spam into ramen and have Hawaiian ramen xD
@@fnjesusfreak I’ll pass on adding spam since ramen itself is already too much sodium
He’s a world hero what an amazing life he lived and what an amazing accomplishment. Now every time I eat a bowl of ramen noodles I’ll think about this.
Ramen prices have quadrupled in the last 2 years. One cup is $1 at the local 99 cents store.
All food has gone way up in price, but these are still affordable. The ramen packages are cheaper than the cups, you can still get those under a dollar.
Much cheaper to buy in bulk if possible.
Ya get 5 packs for $1.25 at dollar tree lol
@@X1.7 the square packaged ones used to be like 7for a dollar
@@X1.7 I can survive for 5 days for $1.25?
He has fed countless people from around the world including the United States Haiti Latin America and Asia of course
A great man.
His work drive and ethic is inspirationnal. Rip.
Whenever I feel hopeless, and that I’m losing my faith in humanity, I like to watch videos like this to remind me of the good
When I was in prison. We were able to buy top ramen from the canteen. I used to buy 200 a month
I've seen prison shows where convicts would eat the block of noodles "raw" with the powder sprinkled over it. I'm guessing no access to hot water?
@@mph1ishThere are some brands like Mama brand instant noodles, that actually taste good dry out of its package. It’s somewhat like eating potato chips, deep fried and seasoning.
I spent my entire childhood eating ramen, literally from atleast 5th grade-high school I ate ramen everyday after school. One of my favorite meals growing up, my mom would boil some chicken, shred it and put it in ramen. My mom told me many years later, we were poor, that was the easiest way for my parents to feed the 6 of us…we were poor and I never noticed simply because of how much I enjoyed the ramen itself. I wish I could personally thank this man.
Prisoner invents ramen.
Ramen becomes most valuable commodity in prisons.
The circle is now complete.
Thank you for this video. I didn't know I was in such an emotional relationship with Ramen in my life. Thank you for your great service to humanity, Momofuku Ando
His name MomoFuku is just legend.
This is a great video, def deserves more than 168 subs (as of now). Love a story about ramen and post-war Japan, it's incredibly satisfying.
Momofuku Ando is also a great tale about living between two countries and cultures.
This video is based on his biography that completely omits it but born as a Chinese in Taiwan he became by choice Japanese but had to renounce his citizenship for a time after Ww2 so that the Taiwanese government wouldnt disown him and take his parental home and business from him.
As tensions between Taiwan and Japan lessened later he became Japanese again in 1966 and is an outstanding example of a successful non-Japanese business man in post-war Japan
Momofuku Ando/Wu was born a Japanese subject of the Japanese province of Taiwan. He did not have to become a Japanese by choice, because there weren't any other choice. Heck, the Republic of China did not even recognize Taiwan as its own province, and Taiwanese who entered China before 1945 were officially foreigners. ROC maps dating in the 30s still showed Taiwan as part of Japan. It was only when total US victory became imminent did the KMT saw an opportunity to occupy the island of Taiwan.
If anything, he became a Chinese citizen by choice, one made under coercion, because as you said, the KMT threatened to freeze his assets and confiscate his property. Nonetheless, it didn't stop him from moving to Japan immediately postwar, even if he was not officially Japanese yet. As soon as the political tensions eased, he ditched the KMT and regained Japanese citizenship, and that was not a difficult choice.
@@TakCWAL I think the whole point is people known him as MOMOFUKU ANDO instead of his real name Go Pek-Hok from his Chinese ethnicity. He wasn't even mixed or full Chinese. He lived in Taiwan, so I don't imagine he was connected to China as a country itself. However, he was still Chinese and yet that part is completely erased. His idea of instant ramen had some influence from Chinese noodles itself since that is how Japanese ramen was invented so ignoring that part is not cool. He had a Japanese wife so I imagined that was the reason he picked Japan? China itself went through a lot of turmoil after the war, and he probably didn't feel connected to the country since he was from Taiwan and not to imagine China/Taiwan relationship.
As a truck driver I bow to this man, Ramen helps me through the rough hungry work days
In this video, in JAPAN they may call it Ramen but in HAWAII, we call it SAIMIN,and I was brought up on it, and I still eat it, because you can make a quick cheap easy meal for pennies as my children do and they like it
I remember, practically, LIVING on Ramen back when I was in Job Corps. I still eat it, to this day, now that I'm in my 50s as a snack/comfort food and I'd always wondered how they got the noodles dried and able to be shelf stable; Indefinitely. Thanks for this video.
What an inspiration! I remember being poor and hungry and eating Ramen soups... I liked to experiment with different flavors and preparations
Ha!!! Me too 😅
This was suchhhhhh a good video!! The pictures, the way you kept me interested the entire time.. can’t wait to watch your other videos!
dude went to prison for helping people. he helped people his whole life no matter the cause. the amount of bellys that are filled because of him will forever be greatful
First saw Cup Noodle in California in 77. We carried tons of it to Saudi Arabia. Top Ramen helped get me through the misery of boarding school in the 80s; now I'm in Mexico & can enjoy both 💓 The Japanese kids in boarding school had a different kind of ramen. The noodles were soft, in a sealed pouch, and the flavor packets were liquid, with grease included.
Those are the bougie noodles. Well worth it- But often a luxury only reserved for work-study payday, every 2 weeks. 😅
To be fair, my daughter introduced me to the world of alternate, easy to prepare, delicious noodles.
Ramen and a couple chickens will get one through a Zombie apocalypse.
@@joelspaulding5964are they kind of like Udon noodles that you can usually find in the vegan/ tofu section of the grocery stores?
@@mikewhocheeseharry5292There are fresh noodle Raman packs. I'm not sure if OP is talking about those or mistaking Udon Noodles for Raman.
Ramen has literally saved my life on multiple occasions. I've lost my job every time a recession came around and ramen has always been there for me.
This is among my favorite bits of history, a bit of good amidst bitterness and sorrow.
A scent of hope, a chance for another day!
Yes. Thank you Sir! RIP.
This man needs the noble prize his instant ramen is getting me through uni cheep n easy meal especially in a really cold winter day a hot bowl of soup is a budget chef kiss
It's the 'Nobel' prize, named after the inventor and scientist Alfred Nobel. Momofuku Ando never received one but he did get many other awards and medals of equal and greater value.
Thank you for sharing this story, as odd as it is it’s super inspiring to me as an avid instant noodle enjoyer
Those noodles got me through allot of cold & broke nights, thank you sir 👏👏👏
So I watched this and then tried the original Top Ramen for the first time (I've been eating the other popular brand 'cause it's convenient). The Nissin noodles cost just a little more but have no MSG, lower sodium, a little less saturated fat and taste the same. Thanks for this video.
A true international hero. This is my favorite quick lunch and hangover cure. And it still costs a quarter!
this food is what fed me in university...and every student out there.
You can tell how much love was put into this video. Keep it up!!
Super interesting considering ramen noodles are the no.1 prison commissary food item in prisons across the country, if not the entire world.
WHAT A MAN! To have moments in your life you recall back too not only to provide motivation but to help strike ideas and help you become innovative. Dude was a genius. Having dinner with your wife watch her fry tempura and DING light bulb. Dope!
his story touched my heart 💙
I keep a supply of Mama Ramen on hand because the noodles themselves are lightly seasoned and can be used to make other meals without a ton of added salt.
Me too!!! I have a box of the pork flavor ones and sometimes just eat the noodles raw in it’s package with seasoning sprinkled on top. 😂 I’m not currently starving but it reminds me of my childhood and now enjoy them as an adult.
Ando, (born Go Pek-Hok 吳百福), signifies the division of Taiwanese identity during and after WW2. At the end of WW2, a good deal of Taiwanese identified themselves as Japanese (Taiwan is a Japanese colony between 1895-1945) while they are ethnically Hokkien Chinese descent (such as Ando). That's why he went to Japan, or "to the motherland". Most of the people who identified with Japan were seriously oppressed when chiang kai shek's Natioanlist party retreated to Taiwan, and one can say the whole Taiwanese independence movement started with the Taiwanese who identified themselves more as Japanese back in the 50s. Even today, Taiwan is a place that has a unique blend of Chinese and Japanese culture. Older Japanese people often think Okinawa and Taiwan are similar (Okinawa is closer to Taiwan than Japan mainland). Taiwanese often thinks Ramen is a Taiwanese invention due to Ando's origin, but Ando himself probably hoped to be a pure Japanese tho.
I'm curious do you have source that he hoped to be a pure Japanese? I don't imagine it was fun being under Japanese colonial rule. Taiwanese left China and went to Taiwan so naturally they don't want to go back to China. There were a lot of conflicts then. Regardless, I don't think they refer Japan "to the motherland" as Japanese soldiers were known to be horrible during WII. Taiwanese invention or not, his origin came from Fujian China so his food and custom are probably came from there too. Ramen from China was introduced to Japan first and then later Ando invented instant ramen.
"Ramen is a popular Japanese dish that consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and topped with ingredients such as sliced pork, dried seaweed, and green onions. The dish has its origins in China, where it was introduced to Japan in the 19th century.
The first known instance of ramen in Japan occurred in 1859, when the Chinese ambassador to Japan, Zeng Gongliang, presented the dish to the Japanese Emperor. Ramen quickly gained popularity in Japan, and by the early 20th century, it had become a staple food in the country."
otakuramen.com/a-brief-history-of-ramen/#:~:text=The%20dish%20has%20its%20origins,dish%20to%20the%20Japanese%20Emperor.
It was illegal to give scholarships. That is one of the most insane things I’ve ever heard in my life.
These things made up like 50% of all my meals through my time as a student, and even today I always have a stash in my cupboard (though nowadays most are the expensive high quality ones)
Fascinating video. I look forward to more like these.
Continues to feed me and countless others to this day. Thank you to this man
On my construction sites we had food trucks, but I always had couple cases of cup of noodles, when new laborers started some “like me 6yrs before” couldn’t afford even PBJ, but building is hard work,takes calories, I made sure they ate n stay hydrated, Texas is hot enough but construction causes heat from machinery, chemicals, welding, materials, all of it, these noodles saved many of my men’s lives
I would imagine that the electrolytes in the broth didn't hurt either.
He should have been given a Nobel prize as his invention has fed more people and sustained more poor souls lives than anything in history.
My hero.🙏
Ramen noodles is a legit MVP! It is so convenient, cheap & gets the job done..when you are not rich & or on a budget etc. Salute!
Thank you Momofuku Ando for your wonderful gift to the world. I always keep a case or two of cup noodles in my barracks for the nights I just need a quick cup of comfort when the mess hall is closed
Here in Osaka there is the Cup Noodle Museum. It is in Ikeda, north of Osaka. Should you visit Japan and want to go there just take the Hankyu Takarazuka train line from Umeda Osaka Station.
Like most have said, if it wasn’t for this man, I’d likely have starved to death long ago. I legitimately owe my life to him.
A true testament to hard work and perseverance.
Instant Ramen noodles were a Godsend when I was young and poor. Buy a dozen Ramen noodles packs. Buy a Dozen eggs and buy some frozen mixed vegetables....or grow your own veggies. I could eat for a week on $10 to $15. This was the late 80s and 90s.
Sounds like you're gonna live long like the Japanese.
@@thomaslong8448I'm not living super long. I chain smoke cigarettes and drink beer most nights. I only eat Ramen a couple of times a month nowadays since I'm 53 and married (no kids). At least I have a physical job that keeps me in shape.
Here in Mexico we recently got a flavor called esquites wich are essentially noodles with elote (corn) red bell pepper and some seasonings, usually when I can't spend too much on food or don't have time to cook I just make a cup of those and add mayonnaise and Tabasco sauce, it's quick, cheap and tastes almost as good as real esquites, and all thanks to this man, greetings from Mexico...
And when you fart you blow corn on the ole lady while under the sheets no coolo for you
@@madmanmechanic8847😂😂😂😂 yo what i did not expect this
@@kuruk9379 bahahahbhahb me neither
I was broke and ate instant ramen for lunch for lunch (still do), till I got back on my feet again. I used it to rebuild my life.
You feed those you love.. this man loved us all. Ty for the food.. i would say good food but adequate is more apt.
Eating a bowl of indomie while watching this just hits the spot!!
Indomie is amazing!
RIP to all the inmates that died for Ramen
this made me hungry, im heading to the store right now and buying some cup noodles!
This brought some tears in my eyes. This is why we are alive to create things
I've recently found a bunch of Asian grocery stores that stock nissin cup noodles and they're far superior to the standard ones you get in our supermarkets.
Curry flavour is the bomb just FYI.
I like the Mama brand Pork Flavor. It doesn’t taste anything like pork and it’s not in a cup but you can easily cook in in your own cup. I prefer cooking it on a stove while making the broth first like adding meats, veggies, and then throw the noodles into the seasoned broth.
Yeah there's way better selections at Asian stores and Asian markets are everywhere here in California and every other place to I imagine.
So glad this man cared for the people has fed me and kept me from going hungry. Thank you From the USA
Interesting. I think anyone who is poor or has been or just barely getting by has eaten ramen. pack of ramen noodles fills ya up. This man is more than just a hero of Japan. he is a hero of the world. people all over the world survive on ramen noodles.
Bro had no idea how many poor college kids he help get through college. The struggle was real lol
When you stop and think about it, it's so peculiar, all the millions and billions of little ways that people change the world during their time here. Its really inspiring, but also sad when you consider that most people will never know what it feels like to be that impactful to the trajectory of mankind.
This is the best RUclips video I've ever watched. Thank you, sir!! 💯💯💯💯❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Food is the story of humanity. It's ups and downs. Ebbs and flows. Every meal has a story and every story is worth hearing.
Good work friend.
The fact that he failed multiple times in his career and didn’t let it stop him and eventually creating a product that saved millions of lives.
That man deserve’s a nobel prize.
Struggling college kids and poor people hold this man on a higher pedestal. And if u were both like me, the respect is even greater for this mans invention.
It’s worth noting that he started his most successful business at age 48. After decades of prosperity and setbacks, he never gave up. It’s never too late to try something new.
International hero to me. I can't count the times I relied on instant noodles to feed me back in my teenage years when my family was struggling.
Underated creator. Keep up the good work.
If it wasn’t for him, there was a time of my life I wouldn’t have been able to eat!! Thank you sir!!!
this guy is like a deity to broke college students, praise instant noodles for keeping me alive lol.
he made kids all over the world a meal they can enjoy anytime ❤
i still love ramen to this day. i have some in my pantry at this very moment. don't know why this popped up on my feed, but i'm happy I watched it.
As a broke student, I thank this man for keeping all of us broke students fed. His work came back to helping students in the end.
Great upload. You deserve many more subs. Subbed.